Three men charged after Werribee crime spree

Three men have unleashed chaos in Melbourne’s west during a wild crime spree involving two alleged armed burglaries and a high-speed police chase.

Three men are accused of a crime spree which started with an armed robbery in Werribee. Picture: 7News

Three alleged offenders were arrested at gunpoint after a crime spree in Melbourne’s west on Tuesday morning.

Police were told two people armed with a machete entered a business at Watton St in Werribee about 9am and demanded cash before fleeing in a vehicle, an act they live-streamed on social media.

CCTV footage shows the ­offenders – dressed in black with masked faces – reaching into the till of the NQR supermarket. Staff member Paris Jones told 10 News: “Everyone’s OK but it was a bit of a scary ordeal.”

Three men are accused of holding supermarket staff at knifepoint before stealing cash and booze. Picture: 7News

The offenders then targeted a business on Cottrell St. One male ­entered with the ­machete and stole cash and ­alcohol.

Police spotted and pursued a Hyundai hatchback through Werribee but the chase was called off. However they were tracked on social media and ­located again at a Moonee Ponds service station. Shortly after the vehicle crashed on Ascot Vale Rd, about 10.30am.

Officers with guns drawn then made the arrests.

Police take one man into custody following a high-speed police chase that started in Werribee and ended in Ascot Vale. Picture: 7News

Police said an 18-year-old Kings Park man had been charged with armed robbery, car theft and bail offences. A 19-year-old Tarneit man was charged with armed robbery, car theft, conduct endangering life and driving offences.

A 16-year-old boy remains under police guard in hospital.

A witness told media he saw police draw guns as the teens were arrested on Ascot Vale Rd.

“You could hear the police coming down the road and then all of a sudden there was this almighty bang,” David Rogers said.

Aftermath of the high-speed chasing in which the vehicle collided with a house. Picture: 7News

“The police were there in four seconds afterwards, had their pistols drawn and everything to get him out of the car.”

NQR Werribee employee and alleged victim Paris Jones said the offenders stole goods before trashing parts of the store.

“Everyone’s okay but it was a bit of a scary ordeal, obviously,” she recalled.

“It was very quick, they came in, threatened, they got the money, got what they wanted but then they’ve gone into the alcohol section and stolen some more and thrown some stuff around just for fun.”